Reinforcing member for spring element



J. s. MEYERs 3,185,466

REINFORCING MEMBER FOR SPRING ELEMENT Y May 25, 1965 Filed June l2, 1963 FIG. 1

INVENTOR JOHN S. MEYERS B@ @MJ ATTORNEYS ha T l United States Patent O r'ce v `3,185,466 REINFORCING MEMBER FOR SPRING ELEMENT John S. Meyers, Allen` Park, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Hoover lBall and Bearing Company, Saline, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed June 12, 1963, Ser. No. 287,413 3 Claims. (Cl. 267-105) The present invention relates to improvements in strut bracing structure for linear -spring elements of resilent wire used in the manufacture of resilient cushion structure.

I-n the manufacture of lfurniture Where linear spring elements are used in the fabrication of the cushion structure, it has been the practice to provide spaced, opposed frame members on which terminal portions of the spring elements are supported in bridging relation. Where the front to rear dimension of the seat of such furniture exceeds certain limits established in theindustry, it has been the practice to provide a supplemental rail forward of the rear frame member and to support the rear terminal of the spring elements on such a rail in lieu of on the rear frame member.

To avoid a substantial portion of the additional labor and material connected with the use of a supplemental rail in the seats of furniture having extra depth, the present invention contemplates the elimination of the supplemental rail and the use of a spring element of greater length but of similar wire gauge, with the deilection of the longer spring element being controlled by an improved yet simple strut brace.

According to the invention, the strut brace is applied to the rearframe member through a gooseneck-shaped rear anchorage portion, and then snapped into interlocking engagement with the main linear spring element through a specially crimped forward end portion. When in assembled relation, the strut brace and the main element together form a strong triangular-shaped cantilever structure to effectively carry the major load-suppor-ting point of the main spring element substantially forward of its actual point of anchorage to the rear frame member.

Thus, an object of the invention is to provide an improved strut brace for linear spring elements.

Another object is to provide an improved strut brace for linear spring elements especially adapted for use in furniture having wooden frame members.

A further object is to provide a strut brace for linear spring elements having a gooseneck rear frame anchorage and a wrap around forward spring element-embracing end.

A still further object is to provide a linear spring element with a triangular-shaped cantilever structure for shifting the load-supporting point inwardly of the anchorage point of the spring element on its frame member.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will hereafter appear in the detailed description and claims.

In the drawings, p

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, vertical section through the frame of a chair `showing the invention as applied to a linear -spring element of the seat cushion structure,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary,V vertical section through the rear frame member of the chair of FIG. 1,

showing the strut brace in side elevation and taken on with the result that the frame members 14 and 16 areV widely spaced from front to back. With frame spacing p portion 40.

3,185,46 Patented May 25, 1965 of this nature, it has been the practice heretofore to provide a supplemental rail or frame member.

With the frame spacing shown in FIG. l, the gauge of wire of the linear spring elements 18 would have to be heavier than standard to provide adequate load support. Such heavier gauge would make the elements l too stiff along the front edge of the seat cushion in the area of the fishmouth form 20.

Through the employment of the present invention, the gauge of the elements 18 would be held standard in furniture having deep front to rear -seat cushions with widely spaced frame members by associating with each main linear spring element 13 a strut brace 22. As shown, the spring wire brace 22 has a gooseneck portion deiined by leg portions 24 and 26 and a connecting loop 28, the portion 26 being received in a hole 30 in the wooden frame 16 and the portion 24 being disposed along -the inner surface 32 of the frame 16 and preferably having thrust bearing relation therewith upon loading of the elements 1S. Extending angularly upward fromthe lower part of the leg portion 24 is a compression leg portion 34 having its outer and upper end 36 preformed to enable the same to be disposed over the torsion bar portion 38 of the element 18, then under the spacer bar portion 40, with the return bent end portion 42 embracing a side of and being disposed over the The sequence of steps for applying the strut brace 22 to its associated element 18 may be varied. As both are of resilient wire, they may be deected and snapped into assembled relation With the portion 26 in the hole 30, following the insertion of the anchorage `end of the element 18 in its hole 42 in frame 16. An-

other sequence of steps would involve hooking the end 42 on the spacer portion 40, as shown in FIG. 3, and then inserting the terminal portions of both the element 18 and brace 22 in the holes 30 and 46.

The specilic form of the main linear spring element 18 may follow the prior art. For example, the spacer portion 4d may be of straight Wire form extending to the fishmouth form at the front of the seat cushion.

It will be observed from FIG. 2 that the strut brace 22 forms a triangular cantilever support with the terminal portion 44 of the element 18. From FIG. 3 i-t will be noted that strut brace 22 is disposed in substantial alignment with the spacer portion 4t) and that it is disposed on a plane parallel to a vertical plane through the iterminal portion 44 of the element 18. This arrangement of structural components provides the element 18 with lateral stability and also has the effect of shifting the point of support of the element 1S from adjacent the frame 16 to adjacent the point of the end portion 42 of the strut brace 22 embracing the spacer portion 40.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and wish `to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. In a seat cushion, the combination with spaced opposed frame members having a linear spring element having spacer and torsion bar portions with terminal portions located on and in bridging relation with said members, of a strut brace in the form of a spring wire part having an end portion interlocked with a terminal portion of said element at a point inwardly of the point of engagement of said element on one of said members, said brace having a straight portion extending from said end portion and angularly disposedto said element and abutting said last member below its point of engagement with said element, said brace forming a triangular-shaped cantilever support with :the terminal portion ofV said element to shift the main support of said element from said last member to the point of interlocking of said end portion with said element.

2. In a seat cushion, the combination of claim 1, wherein the abutting part of said angularly disposed portion is in the form of a gooseneck having a leg portion thereof disposed along the inner side of said last member, a loop-connected second leg portion of said gooseneck, said last member having socket means in which said second leg portion is received to support said rst leg portion against pivotal movement on the inner side of said last member in the plane of deection of said element.

3. In a seat cushion, the combination of 'claim l, wherein said brace is disposed in substantial alignment with a spacer portion of said element and said point of inten 10 sion bar portion and said last member being located in a plane parallel to a vertical plane through the angularly disposed portion of said brace.

5 References Cited bythe Examiner UNETED STATES PATENTS 2,812,803 11/57 Neely 267-107 X 2,829,880 4/58 Staples 267--1 2,835,312 5/58 Neely 267-105X ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A SEAT CUSHION, THE COMBINATION WITH SPACED OPPOSED FRAME MEMBERS, HAVING A LINEAR SPRING ELEMENT HAVING SPACER AND TORSION BAR PORTIONS WITH TERMINAL PORTIONS LOCATED ON AND IN BRIDGING RELATION WITH SAID MEMBERS, OF A STRUT BRACE IN THE FORM OF A SPRING WIRE PART HAVING AN END PORTION INTERLOCKED WITH A TERMINAL PORTION OF SAID ELEMENT AT A POINT NWARDLY OF THE POINT OF ENGAGEMENT OF SAID ELEMENT ON ONE OF SAID MEMBERS, SAID BRACE HAVING A STRAIGHT PORTION EXTENDING FROM SAID END PORTION AND ANGULARLY DISPOSED TO SAID ELEMENT AND ABUTTING SAID LAST MEMBER BELOW ITS POINT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ELEMENT, SAID BRACE FORMING A TRIANGULAR-SHAPED CANTILEVER SUPPORT WITH THE TERMINAL PORTION OF SAID ELEMENT TO SHIFT THE MAIN SUPPORT OF SAID ELEMENT FROM SAID LAST MEMBER TO THE POINT OF INTERLOCKING OF SAID END PORTION WITH SAID ELEMENT. 